Niger - February 2025

On 20 February, a national commission tasked with planning Niger’s transition to civilian government submitted its recommendations to the ruling junta. The commission consulted more than 700 delegates including lawyers, architects and teachers, though not political parties, who boycotted the process. The recommendations include a minimum five-year transition to civilian rule, the dissolution of all existing political parties and new rules that limit the number of political parties to five. The commission also proposed drafting a new constitution and granting amnesty to all participants in the 2023 coup. Further, it suggested allowing junta officials, including leader Brig. Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, to contest future elections. Tchiani welcomed the recommendations and pledged to support them, but the junta has yet to decide whether to formally adopt the plan and set the official transition timeline.

Sources: ActuNiger, Reuters, AP News, Human Rights Watch, Radio France Internationale (1), Radio France Internationale (2)